The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-04
MAKINGARECORD OF INFAMY
The Minority Resolutions Relating to
Branaman's Case Ruled Out of Order.
The Inscriptions Majority in the Senate Ar
bitrarily Disposes of Matter Disagreeable
to Yesterdays Legislative Proceedings.

1t was only week ago, Wednesday last, when
the minority of the committee on eleetions pre-
sented the report as to Branaman's r!eht to a
seat in the Senate. 1t was red. together with
the accompanying resolr..lons declaring Brana-
ham ineligible, and that Mcdonald had not dis
quailned h,-lnself to hold his seat, as falsely
charged by the majority of the committee.
After several hours discussion in an effort to
deprive the minority of all right TO be heard
the Senate, with several Dem ocrats voting with
the Republicans, made the report and resolu-
tions the special order for discussion
yesterday afternoon 1t appeared on that
day that the Democrats were inclined
to have argument on this case, as some of them
further assisted the Republicans in having an
hour assigned to each side for the discussion
When Senator Dresser called up the report yes
terday under this order and, according to the rec
ord Senator Bailey, who is preparing to drop with
a dull thud from his position of self-imposed i'm
portance as leader of the Democratic ring that
has brought all the trouble and odium on the
party, moved that the discussion on the report
and it's resolutions be postponed for one week,
it seemed as if all the Democrats, who were ap-
parently fair week before, had answered the
crack Of the whip without protest
In spite of Republican remonstrance at this
breach of faith, the majority voted to postpone,
not a Democrat deeming it worth his while to
Senator Sellers. 1t was not enough for him
that the order should be broken. He considered
the report out of order for it ought to have been
presented when the majority report came to the
reconsideration of what has already
been done by the Senate. This
question cannot be reached again without mo-
ton to reconsider" He fully confirmed in
his position when Senator Bailey, throwing
himself back in his chair and placing his thun bs
in the holes of his vest said, THAT is cor
rect" Even Senator Smith, in the chair, began
to gather in his peculiar parliamentary practices
to shut off tine minority. II cannot see," he re-
marked. after Senator Bailey had winked at
him, ''how the minority could now offer to seat
Mr.. Mcdonald"
ooh" said Senator Bailey in tone that sug-
gested it was no use to talk further about the
matter, 1.-THE minority is predicated only on the
majority report"
sThe resolutions only have been read" said
Senator Huston. "There is presentation OF
facts"
Yes, stump speech" complacenty remarked
Senator Bailey, no doubt recalling his efforts tc
| overthrow w. D. Bynum. Senator Bailey is
troubled with illusions. There is no harm in
him, except desire to pose as politician. Sen
ator Huston recognized this, and continued tC
reclte tn9 facts or the summary, unguSt auu
tyrannical exercise of power by which Mr. Nc
Donald had been unseated. "Now," he said
there is a breach of faith in postponng the dis
cussion." Senator Smith remarked that
| even if the resolutions had beer
presented at the time the majority
report was made, they would not have been ger
name to the subject. There was no question as
to the right of the minority to have the report
on the record, but the case has been decided
He ruled the whole matter ont of order, from
which Senator Winter took an appeal, followed
by a motion to lay it on the table On this the
| yeas and nays were called, resulting in the mo
ton being carried by strict party vote. A
| Democratic motion was then made to reconsider
| with the motion to lay it on the table. This wa
| carried. and so ended the Democratic pretension
| in allowing free discussion on the right o
! Frank Branaman to a seat in the Senate.